Beirut – As part of its program “UNESCO for Women in Science”, UNESCO has selected five outstanding female researchers, each from Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Jordan, to win the Levant and Egypt Fellowship.

Five winners for this year from the different Levant countries and Egypt have been honored; from Egypt Dr. May Tolba (pharmacology), from Syria Dr. Ghenwa Khaddour (Hydrology), from Jordan, and Dr. Amani al-Gharaybe; the list also included Dr. Shatha al-Tai (Mycology) from Iraq, and Dr. Tamara Al-Zein (Atomic Energy Science) from Lebanon.

During an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Dr. Zein considered that this initiative launched by UNESCO has emphasized the role of woman in science and the need to enhance its participation in this field.

Zein, who has returned to her country Lebanon in 2014, is specialized in the study of nuclear pollution and its impact on the environment and natural resources; her interests focus on finding and developing innovated means to eliminate this pollution.

Dr. May Tolba from Egypt, specialized in Pharmacology has been honored by UNESCO for her achievements in studies on finding new measures to resist cancerous tumors.

In the field of water shortage, the Syrian Ghenwa Khaddour focuses her researches on means to create alternative sources that help on limiting water problems and pollution.

The five honored women received their awards from Zahida Darwish Jabbour, secretary-general of UNESCO’s national committee in Beirut, in a ceremony held under the patronage of Mrs. Randa Assi Berri, vice president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, in presence of L’Oréal Levant Managing Director Mr. Philippe Patsalides the main sponsor of this ceremony, and Professor Mouin Hamze, Secretary General of the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon.